Stirling-based heating and cooling device

ABSTRACT

A device for heating a first article and cooling a second article. The device may include an enclosure with a hot compartment and a cold compartment. The device also may include a Stirling cooler with a hot end and a cold end. The hot end may be positioned in communication with the hot compartment so as to heat the first article and the cold end may be positioned in communication with the cold compartment so as to cool the second article.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to refrigeration andheating systems and more specifically relates to an apparatus driven bya Stirling cooler and having a heated area and a cooled area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Known refrigeration systems generally have used conventionalvapor compression Rankine cycle devices to chill a given space. In atypical Rankine cycle apparatus, the refrigerant in the vapor phase iscompressed in a compressor so as to cause an increase in temperature.The hot, high-pressure refrigerant is circulated through a heatexchanger, called a condenser, where it is cooled by heat transfer tothe surrounding environment. As a result, the refrigerant condenses froma gas back to a liquid. After leaving the condenser, the refrigerantpasses through a throttling device where the pressure and thetemperature are reduced. The cold refrigerant leaves the throttlingdevice and enters a second heat exchanger, called an evaporator, locatedin or near the refrigerated space. Heat transfer with the evaporator andthe refrigerated space causes the refrigerant to evaporate or to changefrom a saturated mixture of liquid and vapor into a superheated vapor.The vapor leaving the evaporator is then drawn back into the compressorso as to repeat the refrigeration cycle.

[0003] Attempts to use such a Rankine cycle system to refrigerate aportable device, however, have been largely unsuccessful. The typicalcomponents of a Rankine cycle system are generally too large, too heavy,and too loud. Further, such systems generally contain noxious orgreenhouse gases. As a result, most Rankine cycle systems are used forstationary refrigeration devices.

[0004] Similarly, attempts have been made to use the waste heatgenerated in a Rankine cycle system to provide heat to a warmingcompartment spaced apart from the refrigeration area. Although wasteheat is generated, the relatively large and cumbersome configurationrequired by a Rankine cycle system, may make it difficult to transfereffectively the waste heat to the warming compartment. Separating therefrigeration components and the warming compartment generally maylessen the efficiency of the system as a whole.

[0005] One alternative to the use of a Rankine cycle system is aStirling cycle cooler. The Stirling cycle cooler is also a well-knownheat transfer mechanism. Briefly described, a Stirling cycle coolercompresses and expands a gas (typically helium) to produce cooling. Thisgas shuttles back and forth through a regenerator bed to develop muchgreater temperature differentials than may be produced through thenormal Rankine compression and expansion process. Specifically, aStirling cooler may use a displacer to force the gas back and forththrough the regenerator bed and a piston to compress and expand the gas.The regenerator bed may be a porous element with significant thermalinertia. During operation, the regenerator bed develops a temperaturegradient. One end of the device thus becomes hot and the other endbecomes cold. See David Bergeron, Heat Pump Technology Recommendationfor a Terrestrial Battery-Free Solar Refrigerator, September 1998.Patents relating to Stirling coolers include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,678,409;5,647,217; 5,638,684; 5,596,875 and 4,922,722, all incorporated hereinby reference.

[0006] Stirling cooler units are desirable because they arenonpolluting, efficient, and have very few moving parts. The use ofStirling coolers units has been proposed for conventional refrigerators.See U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,848, incorporated herein by reference. Theintegration of a free-piston Stirling cooler into a conventionalrefrigerated cabinet, however, requires different manufacturing,installation, and operational techniques than those used forconventional compressor systems. See D. M. Berchowitz et al., TestResults for Stirling Cycle Cooler Domestic Refrigerators, SecondInternational Conference. As a result, the use of the Stirling coolersin refrigerators or similar devices is not well known.

[0007] Likewise, the use of Stirling coolers in portable refrigerationdevices is not well known to date. Further, the use of Stirling coolersto heat and to cool simultaneously separate compartments of a device isnot known. A need exists therefore for adapting Stirling coolertechnology to portable refrigeration and heating devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention thus provides for a device for heating afirst article and cooling a second article. The device may include anenclosure with a hot compartment and a cold compartment. The device alsomay include a Stirling cooler with a hot end and a cold end. The hot endmay be positioned in communication with the hot compartment so as toheat the first article and the cold end may be positioned incommunication with the cold compartment so as to cool the secondarticle.

[0009] Specific embodiments of the present invention include the use ofan insulated divider positioned between the hot compartment and the coldcompartment. The Stirling cooler may include a regenerator positionedbetween the hot end and the cold end. The regenerator may be positionedwithin the insulated divider. The enclosure may include a handle forcarrying the enclosure.

[0010] The cold end of the Stirling cooler may include a cold end heatexchanger. The cold compartment may include a Stirling cooler sectionwith a fan, a product section with a product support for positioning thesecond article thereon, and an airflow path for circulating air throughthe Stirling cooler section and the product section. The product supportmay include a number of apertures therein in communication with theairflow path.

[0011] The cold compartment may include a sensor for determining thetemperature therein. The sensor may be in communication with acontroller. The enclosure may include an external vent positionedadjacent to the cold compartment. The controller may be in communicationwith the external vent so as to open the vent when the temperaturewithin the cold compartment drops below a predetermined temperature.

[0012] The cold compartment also may include a divider positionedbetween the Stirling cooler section and the product section. The dividermay include an internal vent therein. The internal vent may include afirst internal vent positioned on a first side of the divider and asecond internal vent positioned on a second side of the divider. Theenclosure may include a number of external vents positioned adjacent tothe cold compartment. The controller may be in communication with theinternal vent and the external vents so as to close the internal ventand so as to open the external vents when the temperature within thecold compartment drops below a predetermined temperature and the ambienttemperature is below freezing.

[0013] The hot end of the Stirling cooler may include a hot end heatexchanger. The hot compartment may include a Stirling cooler sectionwith a fan, a product section with a product support for positioning thefirst article thereon, and an airflow path for circulating air throughthe Stirling cooler section and the product section. The hot compartmentmay include a sensor for determining the temperature therein. Theenclosure may include an external vent positioned adjacent to the hotcompartment. The sensor may be in communication with the external ventso as to open the vent when the temperature within the hot compartmentrises above a predetermined temperature.

[0014] The device may further include a wick extending from about thecold end of the Stirling cooler in the cold compartment to about the hotend of the Stirling cooler in the hot compartment. The cold compartmentmay include a condensate collector positioned adjacent to the cold endof the Stirling cooler and the wick so as to collect condensate and wickit to the hot compartment.

[0015] A further embodiment of the present invention may provide for aStirling cooler driven device for use with ambient temperatures aboveand below freezing. The device may include an enclosure. The enclosuremay include a Stirling cooler section for positioning the Stirlingcooler therein, a product section, and a divider positionedtherebetween. The divider may include an internal vent. The enclosuremay include a number of external vents positioned adjacent to theStirling cooler section.

[0016] The device also may include an internal temperature sensorpositioned within the enclosure and an external temperature sensorpositioned on the enclosure. The sensors may be in communication with acontroller. The controller may open at least a first one of the externalvents when the temperature within the enclosure drops below apredetermined temperature and the ambient temperature is above freezing.The controller may close the internal vent and open the external ventswhen the temperature within the enclosure drops below the predeterminedtemperature and the ambient temperature is below freezing. Thepredetermined temperature may be below about thirty-two degreesFahrenheit (zero degrees Celsius).

[0017] A further embodiment of the present invention may provide for adevice for heating a first article with a hot end of a Stirling coolerand cooling a second article with a cold end of the Stirling cooler. Thedevice may include a hot compartment with the hot end of the Stirlingcooler positioned therein and a cold compartment with the cold end ofthe Stirling cooler positioned therein. A hot compartment vent may bepositioned adjacent to the hot compartment and a cold compartment ventmay be positioned adjacent to the cold compartment. A hot compartmentsensor may be positioned within the hot compartment. The hot compartmentsensor may be in communication with the hot compartment vent so as toopen the vent when the temperature within the hot compartment risesabove a first predetermined temperature. A cold compartment sensor maybe positioned within the cold compartment. The cold compartment sensormay be in communication with the cold compartment vent so as to open thevent when the temperature within the cold compartments falls below asecond predetermined temperature.

[0018] A further embodiment of the present invention provides for atemperature-controlled device for use with an electrical receptacle of avehicle. The device may include a portable enclosure. The portableenclosure may have an interior space to be heated or cooled, a Stirlingcooler positioned about the enclosure for providing heating or coolingto the interior space, and an electrical line for powering the Stirlingcooler via the electrical receptacle.

[0019] A further embodiment of the present invention may provide for aheating and cooling device. The device may include an enclosure with aStirling cooler, a hot compartment, and a cold compartment. The Stirlingcooler may have a hot end heat exchanger positioned in communicationwith the hot compartment and a cold end heat exchanger positioned incommunication with the cold compartment. The hot compartment may includea fan positioned adjacent to the hot end heat exchanger. The coldcompartment may include a condensate collector positioned adjacent tothe cold end heat exchanger so as to collect condensate from the coldend heat exchanger. The device also may include a wick. The wick mayextend from the condensate collector in the cold compartment to the hotcompartment so as to wick condensate from the condensate collector tothe hot compartment and so as to evaporate the condensate via an airstream produced by the fan.

[0020] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent upon review of the following specification, whentaken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a Stirling cooler unit.

[0022]FIG. 2 is an end plan view of the Stirling cooler unit of FIG. 1.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the heating/cooling device of thepresent invention.

[0024]FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the heating/coolingdevice taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

[0025]FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the heating/coolingdevice taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 with the cooling compartment ventopen.

[0026]FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the heating/coolingdevice taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 with the heating compartment ventopen.

[0027]FIG. 7 is a partial side cross-sectional view of an alternativeembodiment of the heating/cooling device with the external vents closedand the internal vents open.

[0028]FIG. 8 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the alternativeembodiment of the heating/cooling device of FIG. 7 with one of theexternal vents open.

[0029]FIG. 9 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the alternativeembodiment of the heating/cooling device of FIG. 7 showing the externalvents open and the internal vents closed.

[0030]FIG. 10 is a partial side cross-sectional view of an alternativeembodiment of the present invention showing a condensate collectionsystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals indicatelike elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 and 2 show aStirling cooler 100 for use with the present invention. As is wellknown, the Stirling cooler 100 may include a cold end 110 and a hot end120. A regenerator 130 may separate the cold end 110 and the hot end120. The Stirling cooler 100 may be driven by a free piston (not shown)positioned within a casing 140. The Global Cooling Company of Athens,Ohio may manufacture a Stirling cooler 100 suitable for use with thepresent invention. Any conventional type of free piston Stirling cooler100, however, may be used herein. Any numbers of the Stirling coolers100 also may be used. The size and the number of the Stirling coolers100 used herein may depend upon the size and the capacity of therefrigeration system as a whole.

[0032] A cold end heat exchanger 150 may be located on the cold end 110of the Stirling cooler 100. The cold end heat exchanger 150 may be across-flow finned heat exchanger or any conventional type of heatexchange device. The heat exchanger 150 may be made out of copper,aluminum, or similar types of materials. A hot end heat exchanger 160may be positioned on the hot end 120 of the Stirling cooler 100. The hotend heat exchanger 160 also may be a cross-flow finned heat exchanger ora similar type of device. The heat exchanger 160 also may be made out ofcopper, aluminum, or similar types of materials. The size of the heatexchangers 150, 160 may depend upon the size of the Stirling cooler 100as a whole.

[0033] FIGS. 3-6 show a heating/cooling container 200 of the presentinvention. The heating/cooling container 200 may include an insulatedouter shell 210. The insulated outer shell 210 may be made out ofexpanded polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, or similar types ofinsulated materials. The insulated outer shell 210 may include a numberof doors 220. For example, a hot compartment door 230 and a coldcompartment door 240 are shown. The doors 220 may each have a handle 250and may be attached to the insulated outer shell 210 by a conventionalhinge 260 or a similar device. The insulated outer shell 210 also mayhave a handle 270 for carrying the heater/cooler container 200. Thecontainer 200 also may have a power cord 280 to power the Stirlingcooler or coolers 100 therein. The power cord 280 may plug into aconventional electric outlet or into an electrical receptacle such as,for example, an automobile lighter compartment. Alternatively, aconventional battery pack also may be used.

[0034] A temperature sensor 285 may be positioned on the outer shell 210so as to determine the ambient temperature. The sensor 285 may be aconventional temperature sensor such as a thermocouple, a thermistor, orsimilar types of devices. The sensor 285 also may be in communicationwith a controller as described in more detail below.

[0035] The container 200 may have a hot compartment 290 and a coldcompartment 300. The hot compartment door 230 may be positioned adjacentto the hot compartment 290 while the cold compartment door 240 may bepositioned adjacent to the cold compartment 300. An insulated divider310 may separated the hot compartment 290 and the cold compartment 300.The insulated divider 310 may be out of expanded polystyrene foam,polyurethane foam, or similar types of materials with good insulatingcharacteristics.

[0036] The Stirling cooler 100 may be positioned within the container200 such that the hot end 120 and the hot end heat exchanger 160 arewithin or adjacent to the hot compartment 290 while the cold end 110 andthe cold end heat exchanger 150 are within or adjacent to the coldcompartment 300. The regenerator 130 may be positioned, in whole or inpart, within the insulated divider 310.

[0037] The cold compartment 300 may have a non-insulated divider 320 anda support plate 330 positioned therein. The non-insulated divider 320may define a Stirling cooler section 340 and a product section 350. TheStirling cooler section 340 may house the cold end 110 of the Stirlingcooler 100 while the product section 350 may house a number of products355. The products 355 may include any item intended to be chilled, suchas a beverage container. Likewise, the support plate 330 also definesthe product section 350 and an airflow path 360. The support plate 330may have a number of apertures 370 therein that lead from the airflowpath 360 to the product section 350. The airflow path 360 may extendthrough the Stirling cooler section 340 and the product section 350.

[0038] Positioned within the Stirling cooler section 340 may be a fan380. Although the term “fan” 380 is used herein, the fan may be any typeof air movement device, such as a pump, a bellows, a screw, and the likeknown to those skilled in the art. The Stirling cooler section 340 alsomay include a shroud 390 positioned therein. The shroud 390 may directthe flow of air through the fan 380 and into the airflow path 360.

[0039] A vent 410 may be formed in the outer insulated shell 210adjacent to the Stirling cooler section 340 of the cold compartment 300.The vent 410 may be an open or shut door type device with a door 412 anda movable hinge 414. The vent 410 may be in communication with a sensor420. The sensor 420 may be a conventional temperature sensor such as athermocouple, a thermistor, or similar types of devices. The vent 410and the sensor 420 also may be in communication with a controller 430 soas to open or shut the vent 410 depending upon the temperature as sensedby the sensor 420 in relationship to the ambient temperature as sensedby the external sensor 285. The controller 430 may be a conventionalmicroprocessor. The programming of the controller 430 may be in anyconventional programming language. The controller 430 may be programmedso as to open the vent 410 if the temperature within the coldcompartment 300 drops below a given set point temperature.

[0040] The hot compartment 290 also may include a non-insulated divider450 and a support plate 460. The non-insulated divider 450 may define aStirling cooler section 470 and a product section 480 similar to thatdescribed above. The support plate 460 may define an airflow path 490communicating between the Stirling cooler section 470 and the productsection 480. The Stirling cooler section 470 may include a fan 500. Asdescribed above, although the term “fan” 500 is used herein, the fan 500may be any type of air movement device, such as a pump, a bellows, ascrew, and the like known to those skilled in the art. The fan 500 maycirculate air through the hot end heat exchanger 160, into the productsection 480, and back through the air flow path 490. A number of hotproducts 510 may be positioned on the support plate 460. The hotproducts 510 may include any item intended to be heated, such as anumber of pizza boxes or other types of hot food containers.

[0041] The hot compartment 290 also may include a hot compartment vent520. As described above with respect to vent 410, the vent 520 may be anopen or shut type device with a door 522 and a movable hinge 524. Thevent 520 may be in communication with a sensor 530 and the controller430. The sensor 530 may be similar to the sensor 420 described above.The controller 430 may open the vent 520 when the temperature as sensedby the sensor 530 rises above a given set point.

[0042] In use, the cold products 355 that are either cold or intended tobe chilled are positioned on the support plate 330 within the coldcompartment 300. Once the cold products 355 are positioned therein, thefan 380 directs a flow of air through the cold end heat exchanger 150into the airflow path 360. The chilled air then flows through theapertures 370 of the support plate 330 and across the cold products 355.The air then returns through the cold end heat exchanger 150. This flowof air thus keeps the cold products 355 chilled.

[0043] If the sensors 420 determine that the temperature within the coldcompartment 300 drops below a given temperature, for example about 34degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius), the controller 430 may openthe vent 410 to allow ambient air to circulate through the coldcompartment 300 if the ambient air temperature as sensed by the externalsensor 285 is above freezing. The vent 410 may remain open until thetemperature therein again rises above the set point as determined by thesensor 420. Alternatively, the vent 410 may be opened proportionally tolet in a varying amount of ambient air. This system as a whole isdesigned for use where the ambient temperature is above freezing.

[0044] Likewise, the hot products 510 or the products that are to bewarmed may be inserted onto the support plate 460 within the hotcompartment 290. The fan 500 may circulate air through the hot end heatexchanger 160, into the product section 480, around the products 510,through the air flow path 490, and back through the fan 500. This flowof air thus keeps the hot products 510 warm.

[0045] If the sensor 530 determines that the temperature within the hotcompartment 290 is above a given set point, for example about 150degrees Fahrenheit (65.6 degrees Celsius), the controller 430 may openthe vent 520 so as to allow ambient air to circulate through the hotcompartment 290. The vent 520 may remain open until the temperaturetherein again falls below the set point as determined by the sensor 530.Alternatively, the vent 520 may be opened proportionally to let in avarying amount of ambient air.

[0046] The container 200 as a whole may be designed such that the heatleak between the hot compartment 290 and the cold compartment 300, theheat leak from within the insulated inner shell 210 and the ambient air,and the refrigeration lift of the Stirling cooler 100 are about inbalance. For example, the following variables may be used:

[0047] Q_(H)=Heat flow through the wall 210 and the door 230 from thehot compartment 290 to ambient;

[0048] Q_(C)=Heat flow through the wall 210 and the door 240 fromambient to the cold compartment 300;

[0049] Q_(D)=Heat flow through the divider 310 from the hot compartment290 to the cold compartment 300;

[0050] Q_(S)=Heat pumped by the Stirling cooler 100 from the coldcompartment 300 to the hot compartment 290;

[0051] Q_(W)=Waste heat generated by the Stirling cooler 100 and dumpedinto the hot compartment 290;

[0052] Q_(FH)=Waste heat generated by the fan 500 and dumped into thehot compartment 290; and

[0053] Q_(FC)=Waste heat generated by the fan 380 and dumped into thecold compartment 300.

[0054] Given a cold compartment 300 temperature (T_(C)) of about 34degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius), a hot compartment temperature(T_(H)) of about 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65.6 degrees Celsius), and anambient temperature (T_(A)) of about 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degreesCelsius), the insulation of the container 200 and the power level of theStirling cooler 100 may be selected such that the following relationshipis in place:

Q _(S) =Q _(C) +Q _(D) +Q _(FC) =Q _(H) +Q _(D) −Q _(W) −Q _(FC)

[0055] Specifically, the Stirling cooler 100 may have a capacity ofabout 40 Watts with a hot compartment 290 having an area of about 2,000cubic inches (about 32,744 cm³) and a cold compartment 300 having anarea of about 1,000 cubic inches (about 16,387 cm³). Given thesevariables, the system as a whole can be used in stabilized conditionswith the hot compartment 290 and the cold compartment 300 at theirrespective set points with little or no need for opening the vents 410,520.

[0056] FIGS. 7-9 show an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention. The container 200 of FIGS. 3-6 may not be effective when theambient air temperature is below freezing. A container 550, however, maybe adapted to deal with such an environment. The container 550 may beidentical to the container 200 with the exception that the non-insulateddivider 320 is replaced with a first divider 560 and a second divider570. The dividers 560, 570 may be made out of plastic, metal, or similarmaterials. The dividers 560, 570 may form an air pathway 580therebetween.

[0057] Positioned on one of the dividers 560, 570 may be a firstinternal vent 590. Positioned on the other end of the dividers 560, 570may be a second internal vent 600. When closed, the internal vents 590,600 may separate the Stirling cooler section 340 from the productsection 300. The Stirling cooler section 340 also may have an additionalexterior vent 610 positioned within the insulated outer shell 210. Thevents 410, 590, 600, 610 may all operate under the control of thecontroller 430 based upon the temperature as sensed by the sensor 420and the external sensor 285.

[0058]FIG. 7 shows the normal operating environment for the container550. In this environment, the exterior vents 410, 610 are closed whilethe internal vents 590, 600 are opened. The cold compartment 300 thusoperates as described above with respect to FIG. 4. Likewise, FIG. 8shows the configuration of the container 500 when the ambienttemperature is above freezing but the internal temperature is below theset point. In this case, one or both of the external vents 410, 610 maybe open so as to allow ambient air to circulate within the coldcompartment 300 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0059]FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the container 500 when theambient temperature is below freezing and the temperature within thecold compartment 300 is below the set point. In this situation, theexternal vents 410, 610 may be open while the internal vents 590, 600are closed. Closing the internal vents 590, 600 effectively isolates theproduct section 350 from the Stirling cooler section 340. Air is thusdrawn into the Stirling cooler section 340 by the fan 380 and isdirected through the air pathway 580 and through the cold end heatexchanger 150. The cold air is then circulated back out through thesecond exterior vent 610. In this case, the Stirling cooler 100 actslargely as a heat pump without adding any additional refrigeration tothe cold compartment 300.

[0060]FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the present inventionhaving a condensate collection system 700. The condensate collectionsystem 700 may use the heating/cooling container 200 as described indetail herein with the Stirling cooler 100. The condensate collectionsystem 700 also may include a condensate collector 710 attached to thenon-insulated divider 320. The condensate collector 710 may be made outof metal, plastic, or similar types of somewhat rigid materials. Thecondensate collector 710 may extend from the non-insulated divider 320along the length of cold end heat exchanger 150.

[0061] The condensate collection system 700 also may have a wick 720positioned adjacent to the condensate collector 710. The wick 720 may bemade out of hydra chamois, polyester fabrics, synthetic sponge(polyvinyl alcohol), or similar materials with wicking characteristics.The wick 720 may extend from the condensate collector 710, through theinsulated divider 310, and into the hot compartment 290 adjacent to thehot end heat exchanger 160. The condensate collector 710 may be angledsomewhat downward such that the condensate will flow towards the wick720. The wick 720 may be mounted directly to the condensate collector710 or to the inner wall of the outer shell 210 so as to not interferewith the cold air stream. The wick 720 may cover part of the condensatecollector 710 so as to assist in absorption of the condensate.

[0062] Any condensate developed in the cold compartment 300 may formabout the cold end heat exchanger 150. The condensate then may drip onto the condensate collector 710. The condensate may flow down thecondensate collector 710 towards the wick 720. The condensate may thenbe absorbed by the wick 720. The wick 720 may then carry the condensatethrough the insulated divider 310 and into the hot compartment 290adjacent to the hot end heat exchanger 160. The wick 720 may move thecondensate by capillary action. As such, the condensate is wicked to thehot compartment 290 regardless of the orientation of the heating/coolingcontainer 200 as a whole, i.e., normal gravity does not play asignificant role in the wicking action. Once the condensate within thewick 720 reaches the hot compartment 290, the condensate may beevaporated via the hot air stream flowing through the hot end heatexchanger 160.

[0063] It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to thepreferred embodiments of the present invention and that numerous changesand modifications may be made herein without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A device for heating a first article and cooling a secondarticle, said device comprising: an enclosure; said enclosure comprisinga hot compartment and a cold compartment; and a Stirling cooler; saidStirling cooler comprising a hot end and a cold end and wherein said hotend is positioned in communication with said hot compartment so as toheat said first article and wherein said cold end is positioned incommunication with said cold compartment so as to cool said secondarticle.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises aninsulated divider positioned between said hot compartment and said coldcompartment.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said Stirling coolercomprises a regenerator positioned between said hot end and said coldend and wherein said regenerator is positioned within said insulateddivider.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises ahandle for carrying said enclosure.
 5. The device of claim 1, whereinsaid cold end of said Stirling cooler comprises a cold end heatexchanger in communication therewith.
 6. The device of claim 1, whereinsaid cold compartment comprises a Stirling cooler section with a fan. 7.The device of claim 6, wherein said cold compartment comprises a productsection with a product support for positioning said second articlethereon.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein said cold compartmentcomprises an airflow path for circulating air through said Stirlingcooler section and said product section.
 9. The device of claim 8,wherein said product support comprises a plurality of apertures thereinin communication with said airflow path.
 10. The device of claim 1,wherein said cold compartment comprises a sensor for determining thetemperature therein, said sensor in communication with a controller. 11.The device of claim 10, wherein said enclosure comprises an externalvent positioned adjacent to said cold compartment and wherein saidcontroller is in communication with said external vent so as to opensaid external vent when the temperature within said cold compartmentdrops below a predetermined temperature.
 12. The device of claim 10,wherein said enclosure comprises an external sensor for determining theexternal temperature, said external sensor in communication with saidcontroller.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein said cold compartmentcomprises a Stirling cooler section, a product section, and a dividerpositioned therebetween.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein saiddivider comprises an internal vent therein, said internal ventcomprising an open position to allow communication between said Stirlingcooler section and said product section and a closed position blockingcommunication between said Stirling cooler section and said productsection.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein said internal ventcomprises a first internal vent positioned on a first side of saiddivider and a second internal vent positioned on a second side of saiddivider.
 16. The device of claim 14, wherein the enclosure comprises aplurality of external vents and wherein said controller is incommunication with said internal vent and said plurality of externalvents so as to close said internal vent and so as to open said pluralityof external vents when the temperature within said cold compartmentdrops below a predetermined temperature and the ambient temperature isbelow freezing.
 17. The device of claim 1, wherein said hot end of saidStirling cooler comprises a hot end heat exchanger in communicationtherewith.
 18. The device of claim 1, wherein said hot compartmentcomprises a Stirling cooler section with a fan.
 19. The device of claim18, wherein said hot compartment comprises a product section with aproduct support for positioning said first article thereon.
 20. Thedevice of claim 19, wherein said hot compartment comprises an airflowpath for circulating air through said Stirling cooler section and saidproduct section.
 21. The device of claim 1, wherein said hot compartmentcomprises a sensor for determining the temperature therein.
 22. Thedevice of claim 21, wherein said enclosure comprises an external ventpositioned adjacent to said hot compartment and wherein said sensor isin communication with said external vent so as to open said externalvent when the temperature within said hot compartment rises above apredetermined temperature.
 23. The device of claim 1, further comprisinga wick extending from about said cold end of said Stirling cooler insaid cold compartment to about said hot end of said Stirling cooler insaid hot compartment.
 24. The device of claim 23, wherein said coldcompartment comprises a condensate collector positioned adjacent to saidcold end of said Stirling cooler and said wick.
 25. A Stirling coolerdriven device for use with ambient temperatures above and belowfreezing, comprising: an enclosure; said enclosure comprising a Stirlingcooler section for positioning said Stirling cooler therein, a productsection, and a divider positioned therebetween; said divider comprisingan internal vent therein; and said enclosure comprising a plurality ofexternal vents positioned adjacent to said Stirling cooler section. 26.The Stirling cooler driven device of claim 25, further comprising aninternal temperature sensor positioned within said enclosure incommunication with a controller and an external temperature sensorpositioned on said enclosure in communication with said controller, saidcontroller in communication with said interior vent and said pluralityof external vents.
 27. The Stirling cooler driven device of claim 26,wherein said controller opens at least a first one of said plurality ofexternal vents when the temperature within said enclosure drops below apredetermined temperature and the ambient temperature is above freezing.28. The Stirling cooler driven device of claim 26, wherein saidcontroller closes said internal vent and opens said plurality ofexternal vents when the temperature within said enclosure drops below apredetermined temperature and the ambient temperature is below freezing.29. The Stirling cooler driven device of claim 28, wherein saidpredetermined temperature is below about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit(zero degrees Celsius).
 30. The Stirling cooler driven device of claim25, wherein said internal vent comprising an open position to allowcommunication between said Stirling cooler section and said productsection and a closed position blocking communication between saidStirling cooler section and said product section.
 31. The Stirlingcooler device of claim 30, wherein said internal vent comprises a firstinternal vent positioned on a first side of said divider and a secondinternal vent positioned on a second side of said divider.
 32. A devicefor heating a first article with a hot end of a Stirling cooler andcooling a second article with a cold end of the Stirling cooler, saiddevice comprising: a hot compartment with said hot end of said Stirlingcooler positioned therein; a cold compartment with said cold end of saidStirling cooler positioned therein; a hot compartment vent positionedadjacent to said hot compartment; a cold compartment vent positionedadjacent to said cold compartment; a hot compartment sensor positionedwithin said hot compartment, said hot compartment sensor incommunication with said hot compartment vent so as to open said hotcompartment vent when the temperature within said hot compartment risesabove a first predetermined temperature; and a cold compartment sensorpositioned within said cold compartment, said cold compartment sensor incommunication with said cold compartment vent so as to open said coldcompartment vent when the temperature within said cold compartmentsfalls below a second predetermined temperature.
 33. Atemperature-controlled device for use with an electrical receptacle of avehicle, comprising: a portable enclosure, said portable enclosurecomprising an interior space to be heated or cooled; a Stirling coolerpositioned about said enclosure and providing heating or cooling to saidinterior space; and an electrical line for powering said Stirling coolervia said electrical receptacle.
 34. A heating and cooling devicecomprising: an enclosure; said enclosure comprising a hot compartmentand a cold compartment; a Stirling cooler; said Stirling coolercomprising a hot end heat exchanger positioned in communication withsaid hot compartment and a cold end heat exchanger positioned incommunication with said cold compartment; said hot compartmentcomprising a fan therein positioned adjacent to said hot end heatexchanger; said cold compartment comprising a condensate collectortherein positioned adjacent to said cold end heat exchanger so as tocollect condensate from said cold end heat exchanger; and a wick, saidwick extending from said condensate collector in said cold compartmentto said hot compartment so as to wick condensate from said condensatecollector to said hot compartment and so as to evaporate said condensatevia an air stream produced by said fan.